Monday, April 07, 2008

What Happens When Women are Expecting

I'm not talking about swollen ankles and gestational diabetes and craving for chocolate. I'm talking about what happens when women are expecting God to move mightily in their midst. I'm talking about the retreat I was at this past weekend. I'm talking about how it's possible to pour yourself out to others- and yet leave filled to overflowing.

The ladies of Grace Chapel invited me to come and be their Speaker this past weekend at their annual retreat up in the quiet place of Speculator, NY. But really I was invited into the presence of God, the joy and feasting that God spreads out for His children who need Him...and know that they need Him.

Some of the things that occurred over the weekend were expected. I prepared four teachings and the women prepared their hearts prayerfully. The two Worship Leaders, Robyn and Diane, prepared- bringing their keyboard and guitar and their rich voices ready to sing out God's praises. (Listen to their inspiring song, God is here at their website.) The kitchen help prepared great meals. The prayer team prepared to intercede continually for the whole weekend.

But who could have prepared for all the joyous unexpected things such as the warm welcome they gave me and my "Whirling Dish Towel Worship Dance"? (All I can tell you ,blog readers, is that you had to be there- and that I'm not that shy about sharing what I do when I get desperate to connect with God!!) (See the first comment here for a more detailed account-against my better judgment!)

Who could have prepared for the close knit fellowship of so many women from all ages, different churches, and carrying different burdens when they came in?But nobody went home carrying those burdens.We cast them off- with laughter, with tears, with open sharing, with open hands that told God we were in need of a real big filling of our cup.

8 comments:

Let me make the first comment here this time, and give you a clue about my Whirling Dish Towel Worship Dance:

Put on the song, "These are the days of Elijah" and crank it up loud. Now do the dirty dishes in your kitchen while you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Start to notice the beginning of the chorus..."Behold He Comes, riding on the clouds...".Find yourself starting to whirl the dish towel overhead in exhuberant surrender as you realize how triumphantly God will deliver you from your despair or discouragement. Whirl that dish towel and dance up a frenzy. Find your kids looking at you as if you lost your marbles. Tell them, "I haven't lost my marbles. I just lost my worries." ...Keep on dancing.

This is what happens when we abandon ourselves totally to God.Even when we are plugged into God's will and know we are going in the right direction, we may be going at a snail's pace.God says,Look this is just a tenth you are seeing of what I have for you.There are nine tenths you are not seeing that you don't know anything about As we get to total abandonment He begins to show us the other nine tenths.David danced with total abandonment before the Lord and that is what God wants from us,putting off the restraints when we come before Him.As you continue to abandon yourself God will continue to break into your life in ways unknow to you.God Bless you Sister

Love this post! Next best thing to being there with you all! I'm glad that you were filled up! Have you ever heard the saying "there's tea in my saucer"? An older woman says this often when she's been filled up to overflowing! Her cup runneth over so to speak! I just love you for your LOVE for HIM! Thanks for making me smile too!

Hello Friends!

I'm a Wife, Mother, Writer and Speaker. I'm your next door neighbor and fellow traveller in this journey of Life. Candid, Practical, and Speaking straight to the heart, I hope to share insights that will change the course of your day...and the direction of your life. Because it's only Upwards from here!

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